<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The widespread use of battery-powered electronic devices creates the need to develop methods to extend their maximum operating time. This can be achieved by using ambient energy, which would otherwise be dissipated. The conversion of energy, usually mechanical energy, into electric energy takes place in energy harvesters. Energy harvester systems based on a dielectric elastomer (DE) are a relatively new field that is being constantly developed. Due to their features, dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) may complement the currently dominant piezoelectric harvesters. The major feature of employing a hyperelastic material is that it allows relatively large displacements to be utilised for generating energy, which is impossible in the case of piezoceramics. This article presents a DEG designed to operate under uniaxial tensile loads and which has a multilayer structure, describes the general operating principles of a DEG, explains the construction and assembly process of the investigated design and shows the electric circuit necessary to properly direct current flow during the DEG operation. The experimental part consists of two series of tests based on a central composite design (CCD). The objective of the first part was to map a capacitance response surface of the DEG in the selected range of the cyclic mechanical load. The second part concerned the amount of generated energy for the specific load case as a function of operating voltages. The result of the work is the formulation of regression models that allow the characteristics of the presented DEG design to be identified.</p>
</abstract>

The widespread use of battery-powered electronic devices creates the need to develop methods to extend their maximum operating time. This can be achieved by using ambient energy, which would otherwise be dissipated. The conversion of energy, usually mechanical energy, into electric energy takes place in energy harvesters. Energy harvester systems based on a dielectric elastomer (DE) are a relatively new field that is being constantly developed. Due to their features, dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) may complement the currently dominant piezoelectric harvesters. The major feature of employing a hyperelastic material is that it allows relatively large displacements to be utilised for generating energy, which is impossible in the case of piezoceramics. This article presents a DEG designed to operate under uniaxial tensile loads and which has a multilayer structure, describes the general operating principles of a DEG, explains the construction and assembly process of the investigated design and shows the electric circuit necessary to properly direct current flow during the DEG operation. The experimental part consists of two series of tests based on a central composite design (CCD). The objective of the first part was to map a capacitance response surface of the DEG in the selected range of the cyclic mechanical load. The second part concerned the amount of generated energy for the specific load case as a function of operating voltages. The result of the work is the formulation of regression models that allow the characteristics of the presented DEG design to be identified.

Experimental Investigation of a Uniaxial Dielectric Elastomer Generator

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, Department of Machine Design and Maintenance

Acta Mechanica et Automatica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Experimental Investigation of a Uniaxial Dielectric Elastomer Generator"}

The widespread use of battery-powered electronic devices creates the need to develop methods to extend their maximum operating time. This can be achieved by...

Experimental Investigation of a Uniaxial Dielectric Elastomer Generator

Published Online: Aug 17, 2023

Page range: 499 - 506

Received: Feb 08, 2023

Accepted: May 14, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ama-2023-0058

Keywords
dielectric elastomer, energy harvester, DEG, uniaxial tension

© 2023 Wojciech Sikora, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Experimental Investigation of a Uniaxial Dielectric Elastomer Generator

Published Online: Aug 17, 2023

Page range: 499 - 506

Received: Feb 08, 2023

Accepted: May 14, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ama-2023-0058

Keywordsdielectric elastomer, energy harvester, DEG, uniaxial tension

© 2023 Wojciech Sikora, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
dielectric elastomer, energy harvester, DEG, uniaxial tension